Kaleidoscopic apparatus for projecting symmetrical designs



uy E22, 1949. H, WESLEY zfls@ KALEIDOSCOPIC APPARATUS 'FOR PROJECTING SYMMETRICAL DESIGNS Filed June 4, 1948 v -Shees--Sheel 1 it 'N Inventor Y Huey 6. Wes/ey "finan-fix W 5.1 r.: July l2, 1949. M G, WESLEY @pf-355593@ KALEIDOSGOPIC APPARATUS FOR PROJEGTING SYMMETRICAL DESIGNS Filed June 4, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 129 1940*. H. G. WESLEY 2,4%336 'KALEIDOSCOPIC APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING SYMMETRICAL DESIGNS Filed June 4, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Hwy 6. Wes/@y Patented `uly 12, 1949 UNITED KALEIDOSCOIPIC APPARATUS FOR PRO- J ECTING SYMMETRICAL DESIGNS Huey G. Wesley, Chillicothe, Ohio, assigner of one-third to James O. Vifesley, Chillicothe, Ohio Application June 4, 1948, Serial N0. 31,101

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in kaleidoscopes and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for projecting symmetrical designs upon a screen or the like which are entertaining in appearance.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a designoscope including a motor driven kaleidoscope for projecting colorful design-s upon a screen and embodying novel and improved means for stopping the kaleidoscope at a desired point for retaining a .selected design projected upon the receiving screen.

A 'further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for projecting designs including a light reilector for directing light rays through a rotary kaleidoscope and means for cooling the source of light so that the said kaleidoscope may be stopped in a selected rotated position without effecting the e'icient operation of the same.

A still further `aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for projecting symmetric and colored designs that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and `otherwise Well adapted for the 4purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like lparts throughout, and `in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the present invention taken substantially on the plane of section line l-l of Figure Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially .on the plane of section line l.,

-2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view vtaken substantially on 'the plane of section line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane -of section line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective View lof the ldesign projector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vlongitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially on 'the plane of section line l-l of Figure 6 Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional vview taken substantially on the `plane of section line t-ii of Figure 6 5 and,

Figure l9 is a perspective 'View of -the 'light directing means used in conjunction with the present invention,

Referring now tothe drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, 'there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 4lil represents a substantially rectangular casing or housing of any su-bstantial material having an upper wall yl2, a forward Wall t4, a removable rear wall Ili, a bottom Wall I8, and side -walls '20. The upper wall l2 and bottom Wall I8 are formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse louvers Aor openings 22 that will aif'ord a means l'for permitting air 'to enter `the housing I0.

Supported within the housing In and upon the bottom wall I8 by feet 2l, is ya 'substantially rectangular base or support plate `26 lon which there is removably secured an electric motor 28 having Ia drive shaft the ends '30 and -32 of which project outwardly from the motor jfor a purpose that will later be more vfully apparent.

Removably secured to the base 26, adjacent the rear Wall |'6 of the housing Hl, is a pair of spaced parallel substantially Ushaped supports 34 and 36 the 'web portions of which removably support a platform -or the -bottom -wall 38 of a light bulb housing d'0. :This latest vhousing 40 includes a hinged rear wall 42 that supports a substantially concavo-convexed reflector 44 'and the upper vwall and `side lwalls `of the housing are provided with louvers 16.

Extending downwardly through an opening 48 provided in the platform, is a Aconduit or passage -Sll the upper open end A'of which is provided with -a flanged portion 52 vthat Kis removably secured to the upper face of the platform '38.

A fan blade 54 2is fixed -on the l'end 3D 'of 'the motor drive shaft lfor directing a `supply of air into the housing In --for cooling a llamp bulb that is retained in a supporting socket 58 carried by the platform 38 and which opposes the reflector 44.

The forward wall 80 of the housing 40 is provided with an opening 62 from which there projects a sleeve 84 that is integrally formed with the forward wall 60. The forward end of the sleeve 64 is provided with a closure plate E6 having a central opening 68.

Retained within the sleeve G4 by split holding L rings 18 is a pair of spaced parallel cooperative lenses 12 andA 14 having opposed convexed faces. These lenses 12 and 14 oppose the lamp bulb 56 for magnifying light rays emitted from the source of light.

Removably secured to the base 2li, :are the angulated end portions 16 of a substantially U- shaped support 18 the leg portions of which rotatably support a pair of spaced parallel shafts 88 and 82, one of which for example shaft 88 is coupled by a sleeve 84 to the end 32 of the motor drive shaft.

The shaftl 80 supports a reduced gear 86 that engages an annular gear 88 carried by an idler shaft 9U rotatably carried by one leg of the support 13, and this shaft 98 also supports a reduced gear 92 that engages a further annular gear 94 carried by the shaft 82 whereby the shaft 82 will be driven at a reduced rate of speed than that at which the shaft 80 is rotating.

A pair of substantially channel shaped bearing members 96 and S8 are removably supported on the web portion of the support 18.

The bearing member 96 rotatably supports a cylinder in which there is mounted a kaleidoscope |02. This cylinder |80 is further supported in a bearing member |84 adjustably supported on the member 18. The cylinder |60 is provided with a pulley It@ that is connected to a pulley 88 xed on the shaft 32 by an endless pulley belt H8 whereby the cylinder |80 will be driven by the motor 28.

A still further bearing or support member I2 is adjustably carried by the member 1S and cooperates with member 98 to support a further cylinder ||4 in which there is mounted a sub stantially triangular light directing trough IIS one end of which extends into the cylinder |60. This trough IB includes a group of joined, elongated substantially rectangular plates the inner surfaces of which are mirrored and the outer surfaces of which are coated with a non-reflecting material.

Removably supported on the base 26 is an upright, cr support H8 having a guide sleeve |28 xed to its upper end that slidably receives a sleeve |22 which registers with and extends outwardly from a projecting opening |24 provided in the forward wall i4.

Retained in the sleeve |22 by split rings |28 is a pair of spaced parallel lenses |28 and |38 having oppositely disposed convexed faces.

Rotatably supported by the forward wall I4 and the guide 121], is an adjusting bolt |32 having an externally threaded end that receivably engages an internally threaded opening in a collar |34 that embraces and which is removably secured to the sleeve |22.

In order to rotate the cylinder |88 without use of the motor 28, there is provided a supportl I 38 xed within the housing I8 that rotatably supports a shaft |38 that carries a beveled gear |40 which engages a further beveled gear |42 carried by the shaft 82. One end of the shaft |38 pro- 4 jects outwardly from one side wall of the housing Il] to receive a suitable crank handle.

A voltage regulator |44 is mounted in the housing l0 and controls the speed rotation of the motor 28 as well as the current to the light bulb 58, and this regulator is provided with a lamp control switch |46 and a motor control switch |48.

In practical use of the present invention, the cylinder will be rotated by the motor 28 and the light rays emitted from the lamp 56 will be directed through the lenses 12 and 14, the kaleidoscope |82, the prisma-tic trough H6, the lenses |28 and itil and hence outwardly from the casing.

The jewels within the kaleidoscope will cause light rays to be directed from the casing of various shapes, designs and the like.

When a desired design has been projected on a screen (not shown) that is disposed in front of the casing, the motor may be braked or stopped, thus retaining the desired design.

Obviously, the cylinder |00 may be rotated manually until the desired design has been projected on a screen or the like.

To focus the design, an operator merely adjusts the bolt |32, it being understood that lenses 12 and 1d are fixed apart a predetermined distance that l G4 may be longitudinally adjusted relative to the cylinder |00.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An apparatus for displaying designs comprising a housing including a forward wall having a projecting opening, an electric motor mounted in said housing having a drive shaft, the ends of said drive shaft projecting outwardly from said motor, a first support mounted in said housing, a bearing carried by said rst support, a cylinder rotatably carried by said bearing, means operatively connecting said cylinder to one end of said driY e shaft for rotation therewith, a, kaleidoscope carried by said cylinder, a source of light xed in said housing for directing light rays through said kaleidoscope, a second support mounted in said housing, a guide carried by said second support, means carried by the remaining end of said drive shaft for cooling said source of light, a sleeve adjustably carried by said guide and registering with said projecting opening, and means for directing light rays from said kaleidoscope through. said sleeve.

2. The combination of claim l wherein said means operatively connecting said cylinder to one end of said drive shaft includes reduction gearing.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cooling means includes a fan blade carried by said drive shaft, and a conduit between said fan blade and said source of light.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a forward lens and a rear lens removably secured to said sleeve.

5, The combination of claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means includes a further guide carried by said rst support, a further cylinder carried by said further guide, and an elongated triangular conduit carried by said further guide.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said -conduit includes a plurality of elongated sections having mirrored inner faces and non-reecting outer faces.

7. The combination of claim 1 and a further sleeve opposing said source of light, a pair of i lenses mounted in said further sleeve and registering with said directing means.

8. The combination of claim '7 wherein said pair of lenses include opposing convexed surfaces.

HUEY G. WESLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following reerenlces are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,449,122 Marchand Mar. 20, 1923 1,712,431 Hadley May 7, 1929 1,914,562 Freeland 1 June 20, 1933 1,966,531 Tint July 1'7, 1934 2,038,909 Smith et a1. Apr. 28, 1936 2,401,506 Pechkranz June 4, 1946 Y FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 399,521 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1933 

